In early 2006, while I was attending the 2-month yoga philosophy course at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh, India, one of the teachers gave us a talk on fasting – its techniques, benefits etc. Even though fasting is a common practice in the Indian culture, I had never considered fasting prior to this talk. Skipping even one meal used to feel like a torture for me. This teacher, however, gave quite a convincing argument in favor of fasting. At the Sivananda Ashram, the residents are encouraged to observe a day’s fat on Ekadashi day (11th day of the moon cycle). On that day the ashram kitchen offers a very light breakfast followed by a light lunch. No dinner is served that day. On my first Ekadashi day there, I felt so hungry in the afternoon that I had to go out and eat dinner at a restaurant. But, after listening to the talk I decided to give it a try once I got back to the US.
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Camel Pose (Ushtrasana – उष्ट्रासन) is one of the commonly practiced backward-bending poses. It is an intermediate level back bending pose and stretches both the front and back sides of the body. The Sanskrit word ‘ushtra’ means a camel. It is not clear why the pose is named after a camel since the final pose doesn’t look anything like a camel. Maybe it is because the pose can store energy which can be released later, similar to a camel’s ability to store water for a long time. Since the pose provides an intense back stretch, it is advisable to practice it after some of the preparatory poses like cobra, locust, shoulder stand etc. Boat pose (Navasana – नावासन or Naukasana – नौकासन) Step-by-stepYou can get into the boat pose either from a seated position or from a supine position (shavasana) while you are on your back. I personally prefer to start in the supine position. The next 10-day pranayama/meditation intensive is scheduled as follows:
The word "hala" in Sanskrit means a ‘plow’ (also spelt ‘plough’), a basic implement in the old days used to till the soil. In its final position, it resembles a wooden plough which is pulled by one or two oxen or horses in the field. The mention of the name ‘plough’ brings back memories from my own childhood days while I was growing up in the villages of Punjab where this was a common site in the fields. Halasana is one of the best poses for stretching every part of the spine, especially the upper part of the spine. It is commonly practiced as a concluding variation of the ‘sarvangasana’ (shoulder stand). However, it can be practiced as a stand-alone pose for all the benefits that it provides (see under ‘benefits’ below).
Following our tradition, we had a potluck breakfast last Sunday to "celebrate" the conclusion of the last 12-day pranayama and meditation intensive. That day also coincided with the second leg of the previous 21-day yoga challenge program. So, several of the participants from that course also joined in. As always, everyone brought some of the most delicious, mouth-watering dishes to the table. If for nothing else, one could attend these intensive sessions just for the taste and variety of the items that are served at these breakfasts! One of items that we had this time was this exquisitely tasting granola bars. These were made with healthy and nutritious organic ingredients. Here is the recipe:
I would like to invite you for a Spring yoga retreat in the beautiful rural setting in Mebane, NC. At this retreat you will be able to slow down and experience yourself at a deeper level, nourished and supported by the beauty of natural surroundings. You will be able to deepen your personal yoga practice and develop an understanding of the yoga philosophy in an ashram-like setting under the guidance of Subhash Mittal. Subhash is a long-time yoga practitioner and a dedicated yoga teacher who has been teaching yoga since 1996. Subhash brings the best out of the traditional, ancient yoga teachings and weaves these teachings in the practice of asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation leading to a fulfilling and enriching life experience. The Buddha in his Four Noble Truths stated:
The Yoga system of Patanjali has a very similar concept of suffering or pain. In modern terminology, ‘stress’ is another name for this suffering. Patanjali uses the term ‘klesha’ to denote afflictions or suffering. He talks about five different kleshas, their cause and the remedy. These keshas are: Yes, we are all set for the next 21-day yoga challenge. Are you ready for this exciting and one of the most memorable yoga experiences of your life? Take the challenge and be transformed! Here are the particulars:
You may like to visit the testimonials page on my website to see what some of the previous participants have to say about this program. Please contact me if you would like to participate. Here is the recipe from Carol Fine for a delicious Lemon-rosemary Crumb Cake. Carol brought this cake during the last 21-day yoga breakfast and everyone loved it. Give it a try and enjoy! |
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